Inklings pitch submissions open from 1st to 31st August

Posted on July 11, 2025

 

We’re delighted to announce that we’re open to Inklings pitch submissions from 1st to 31st August.

The Inklings is a series of pocket-sized pop culture books that introduce readers to a wide range of topics they might only have an inkling about! You can see examples on our dedicated Inklings page.

We are looking for compelling narrative non-fiction, with writers able to present topics they are close to or have a special interest in, whether professionally or personally. We are open to anyone who has something fresh and interesting to say or share, and who can write with impact and communicate their perspective clearly. We’re looking for books that marry deeply personal writing with cutting-edge cultural analysis.

We are interested in seeing pitches that address culture and its impact; individual cultural figures from a new perspective; social issues; expressions of identity; and the climate crisis and environmental issues.

We especially encourage submissions from writers of colour; writers who identify as queer; disabled and neurodivergent writers; writers from underrepresented socioeconomic backgrounds and those from other marginalised groups.

The books are approximately 20-25,000 words in length, and authors will be paid royalties based on net receipts of worldwide sales. For guidance as to what we’re looking for, examples of the series include They Came to Slay, by Thom James Carter, and BFFs, by Anahit Behrooz.

The series remit is deliberately broad: the joy of Inklings is the wealth of surprises it contains!

To pitch an idea for Inklings, please email us with:

  • Up to 200-word description of your book idea
  • 150-word biography about you / why you are the person to write about this topic
  • Some samples of your writing: links or email attachments are both fine

Please note: we are not seeking full books at this stage. The description and biography should be sent in the body of the email. We do not accept WeTransfer or Google Docs. Please title emails: Inklings pitch: [1-5 word summary of your topic]

All book submissions should be sent to [email protected]

Note: if submissions are sent before August, the email auto reply will ask you to resend during August. Only pitches received during the outlined dates will be considered.

If your pitch is taken forward, we will ask you for an outline of the book’s structure and a 1,000-word writing sample, to convey a sense of how this can work within the series, and in a longer form, before we make the final commissioning decisions. This process takes a number of months, so your patience is appreciated.

A guide to what we’re interested in exploring:

  • Culture: engagement with culture, particular perspectives on topics in the arts, aspects of genres of music, books or gaming, and what they tell us about ourselves and the world. Or perhaps you have a particular perspective or new take on a historical or contemporary figure – real, mythical or fictional – who has influenced our world.
  • Social issues: do you have a special experience and perspective on our polarised, war-torn, toxic-discourse world that you’d like to share and explore, and tells us something new? Or perhaps an established point that needs revisiting from another angle?
  • Identity: how do you engage with the world through the lens of your core beliefs, community and characteristics, whether your (dis)ability, sexuality, gender, race, nationality, faith, family and relationship status, age and generation, or other factors?
  • Climate crisis, sustainability and our environment: do you have a particular contribution to make to any aspect of these areas?
  • Technology: challenges and consequences of our digital society and culture
  • Current issues: What’s a burning current issue we should be reading about?

Note: we are not accepting fiction or poetry for this series.

This series was originated by 404 Ink. In the wake of their founders’ decision to close 404 Ink, we are working with them to move the Inklings to a new home at Saraband. We are working in tandem with them to preserve everything that is exciting and forward-thinking about the series, while also expanding its horizons a little further. We are convening an international panel to select this round of new books, and we’ll post details of the editors at a later date.

So please surprise us, challenge us, make us think and want to read more. Pitch us the book you want to write. We’re really looking forward to reading your submissions!